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Welcome to the Abba’s Heart eBeat, the monthly eNews from Abba’s Heart Ministries. Read on to be informed and inspired about what God is doing.
Note from Sandi
“Walk with a firm hand and a soft heart.”
Lessons from Apple Trees
The old apple tree in our backyard suffered neglect from the previous owners. It looked more like a very large bush than a tree. The first couple of falls in our new house I had small, delicious apples everywhere. I made apple pies, apple butter and applesauce. My mother-in-law taught me how to make apple jelly. It was fun learning how to can and freeze what we couldn't eat or give away.
But we had a problem. My husband and I knew nothing about pruning fruit trees. By the third fall, the apples were so small it took forever to core and peel enough to do much of anything with them. We called experts, but no one wanted to take on the job of pruning "the largest apple bush" they had ever seen. The apple tree finally had to be cut down.
The next fall, my mother-in-law took me to an apple orchard so I could have fresh apples for my pies, butter, sauce and jelly. These apples were large and beautiful and even more delicious than any from our neglected apple tree. What made the difference? The owners of the orchard knew how to care for their trees. Branches were thinned out each year. By the time the fruit was nearing picking in the fall, branches had to be propped up to keep them from breaking under their abundant loads.
For believers, John 15:1-8 holds lessons for our daily lives. The word picture here is not apple trees, but the parallels are the same. The first century audience Jesus was preaching to had never heard of an apple tree, but they knew a lot about the olive and fig trees that grew around them. Lessons can readily be found in this passage.
Rooted In Christ
The branches of a tree are nothing by themselves. Minerals and water must first be taken in by the roots before they can be passed on to the trunk and finally to the branches. Christ is the vine or root from which we draw our nourishment for our Christian walk. We must be grounded and rooted in Christ. How can we be grounded? Study God's Word. Fellowship with other believers in a church where the Word of God is faithfully preached. Go to God regularly in prayer.
Fruitful Branches
The branches must draw their nourishment from the roots to bear fruit. The branches that don't drink richly wither up and die, and are soon cut away and thrown in a heap to be burned. In Galatians 5:22-23 Paul lists nine characteristics that should be present in a fruitful branch: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Are these characteristics part of our lives? Are we trusting in our own strength and in the danger of being thrown into the heap, or are we abiding in Christ?
Abundant Fruit
Our Faithful Gardener doesn't only command us to bear fruit. He also prunes us to enable us to bear more fruit, abundant fruit. What a wonderful promise. Pruning hurts, but our Faithful Gardener knows it is necessary. God takes out the pruning shears, cutting away the sins that hold back our productivity by bringing trials and hardships into our lives. We must trust Him to know how much pruning is needed. He never prunes away more than we can bear.
A few years ago, our youngest daughter needed major surgery. I can still hear her screams and harsh accusation: "A mother who loves me would never let them do this to me." My heart broke as my husband and I followed the stretcher that was taking our dear little girl to the operating room. All her young mind knew at that moment was fear; she thought her parents were failing her and Mama was to blame. She couldn't understand that her bladder was not working properly and surgery was necessary.
"For He knows our frame: He remembers that we are dust." (Psalm 103:14 NKJV). Because our Faithful Gardener made us and knows us, we are assured of His good intentions for us. God would no more put a trial in our life that was not best for us than my husband and I would subject our daughter to a surgery that was not needful and best for her.
God Is Glorified
When we produce large, useful and abundant fruit in our Christian lives, people around us see Christ, and God is glorified. We need to be fruit inspectors on a regular basis. Our tendency is toward being self-serving, making us inexperienced inspectors apart from God's watchful eye.
Frequently pray:
”Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.”
(Psalm 139:23, 24 NKJV)
Author: Teresa Dickhoner
Memory Verse
Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Spiritual Body Builders
Your chapters for January have been Hebrews 1-5. The first Monday in February, start reading Hebrews 6-10. If you would like to be Spiritual Body Builder, contact our office for a brochure with instructions, or download it by going to www.theRevivalCenter.info and find it in the Wednesday Night Bible Study section. Recordings of some of the discussions are available in the Audio/Video Media System: www.abbasheart.com/avms.asp
Audio/Video Media System
If you haven’t visited the A/V system on our website, it’s time to check it out! You will find compelling audio messages in several categories. The best part is that after listening, you can forward a link to your friends and they can listen too!
When you listen in on the Wednesday Night Bible Studies, you have a link to the handouts, and when you follow along with the Spiritual Body Builders discussion, you can click to open the Bible passage online.
The newest messages have links on the Abba’s Heart home page (www.abbasheart.com) on the bottom right, but to access the accessory files, you will need to click through to the AVMS home page (www.abbasheart.com/avms.asp). All of the messages are available there, and the newest ones will be in the “Media Spotlight” category.
Abba's Max, Our Online Store
New Release! The "End Times" Dream: The Interpretation Will Move You to a Place of Power." From a Revival Center Sunday Worship Service in Clovis, California. Prophetic end times "very elect being deceived" dream interpreted, defined, and applied to our lives. 2 Timothy. Item #0751 is available on CD for $5.00 in our online store, or you may purchase it at the Revival Center in Clovis, CA.
We are transitioning to CD from cassette tapes. The equipment is purchased and all 2008 releases will be on CD. Cassette tapes are still available for all 2007 and earlier releases.
The Queen Camp CD’s (yes, they will be on CD!) have been delayed for a very good reason - won’t go into it here - and we are hoping to have them out to those who preordered them sometime in February. If you didn’t preorder, and you aren’t a member of First Listen, you can order them at Abba’s Max now.
Visit www.abbasheart.com and go to GET RESOURCES for more information and to order.
Also On Our Website
King Camp! Men, it’s time to register! Visit www.kingcamp.info to learn more. May 30- June 1, 2008.
Queen Camp Visit www.queencamp.info to register for next year’s retreat! We are already over half full. It will be at the same location at the Tenaya Lodge near Yosemite, California. November 14-16, 2008.
For this year’s retreat, consider setting up a monthly payment plan. Go to GET BLESSED at www.abbasheart.com then choose Retreat Payments. (You may need to scroll down.) Be sure to put in the comments which retreat you are paying for!
Common Ground Couples Retreat is February 16-17, 2008. Pismo Beach, California. One spot has just opened, contact Dora if you are interested. Visit www.CommonGroundRetreat.info for information.
Revival Center Ministry Schedule in California
Sundays Worship Service at the Revival Center, Clovis, CA 11:00 am
Wednesdays Bible Study and Communion 7:00 pm
(Staff meeting from 6:00 to 7:00 pm)
Fridays Hunger to Hope Miracle Crusade 7:00 pm
Hunger to Hope Miracle Crusades
Scottsdale, Arizona - First Monday of each month, 7:00 pm
Hunger to Hope Crusade Scottsdale, AZ
Clovis, California - Every Friday, 7:00 pm
Hunger to Hope Miracle Crusade
If this was forwarded to you and you would like to be added to our e-mailing list, or if you would like to receive our quarterly newsletter, Abba’s HeartBeat, in the mail, send your e-mail address and/or your mailing address to admin@abbasheart.com. As always, the newsletter is free of charge and our pleasure to send.
For more information about Abba’s Heart Ministries, The Hunger to Hope Miracle Crusades, Reverend Sandi Querin, or anything else you read about here, visit www.abbasheart.com.
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